Beijing (Agencies): China's Communist Party elite held secretive talks on Sunday wihout a new generation of leaders to be formally elected this week when President Jiang Zemin and other party chieftains retire.

Kuala Lumpur (Agencies): The Malaysian government will tighten a security law used to imprison scores of suspected Islamic militants to make it harder for courts to release those detained under the act, a news report said on Sunday.

Baghdad/Washington/Cairo (Agencies): Iraq pondered its response at the weekend to a United Nations disarmament call while U.S. President George W. Bush approved war plans for an initial assault on Iraq if it fails to comply.

Jerusalem (Reuters): Israeli forces pulled back from the West Bank city of Jenin. on Sunday as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon choked off criticism in his right-wing government of a U.S.-sponsored "roadmap" to peace.

Singapore (Agence France-Presse): Singapore is poised to benefit significantly from the spate of free trade agreements Southeast Asia is pursuing with the region's major economies, say officials and analysts.

Canberra (Associated Press): Budget carrier Virgin Blue will make the troubled holiday island of Bali a priority destination when it begins a major expansion from Australian domestic routes into international services soon,Virgin boss Richard Branson said Sunday.

New York (Dow Jones): Emerging market oil exporters better start padding their piggy bank's, as the specter of a U.S.-led war against Iraq, slower global growth and more oil supply all appear to loom larger on the horizon.

Tokyo (Dow Jones): Japanese steelmakers and automobile companies, including Toyota Motor Corp., have almost finalized a price hike agreement on steel plate after a series of cuts of as much as 20 percent over the past three years, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun has learned. A final agreement is expected by the end of the month, industry sources said.

Pattaya, Thailand (Agence France-Presse): Indonesia's Angelique Widjaja claimed the second title of her short career Sunday, defeating Cho Yoon-Jeong of Korea 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the US$110,000 Volvo Open tennis tournament here.

Otsu, Japan (Agencies): Defending champion Annika Sorenstam of Sweden birdied the last two holes for a two-stroke victory to retain the US$1.13 million Mizuno Classic golf tournament on Sunday.